How can I remove fakealert!grb?

Hi

I have windows xp and have been infected with this horrible virus which gives me hundreds of error messages and has made me lose everything in my start menu, desktop etc. I cannot do anything.

I have the current version of McAfee and I had the pop up from McAfee to say it was quarantined but obviously it wasn't. I've scanned and it continues to quarantine them, but does not actually find them. I've run the McAfee stinger but this has not solved the problem. My first question was how did this get past McAfee if it quarantined it in the first instance. Also as well as the fakealert virus I seem to have Artemis as well now. The fakealert seems to continue to reinfect - McAfee must have quarantined it 7 times which I then delete.

Please can anyone help me clear this from my pc. I am not techincal and need basic instructions.

Re: How can I remove fakealert!grb?

Hi

Thanks for your reply. I just used the general stinger which in its list of viruses had fakealert. I couldn't even access the internet at first, but the only programme I have left showing on my pc was a photostorage application which managed to take me to the web and my first searches and advice took me to stinger. I then later saw there was a stinger for fake alert, so is this better than stinger?

Re: How can I remove fakealert!grb?

In any of the Safe Modes, most software wont operate the same way as in regular mode but you would normally see your desktop albeit at a very reduced resolution. Let me know how it goes. Posting on an independent forum such as BleepingComputer might be useful too.

Re: How can I remove fakealert!grb?

The scan has finished and found and deleted 5 fake alert trojans. I've now re-booted and still have lost my desktop applications except internet and outloook and lost all programmes from the start menu. What can I do now please? I am also getting an API error.

Re: How can I remove fakealert!grb?

Thanks for this. Will try it later. Could I also try the unhide.exe first?

I assume that if I try system restore, this is where some of the fakealerts were which were deleted by the stinger last night, just in case they were hiding in the system at the date I pick for the restore, if they have now been deleted, are definately gone in the system and won't re-infect if I restore to that date when they could have been in hiding, or is the infection almost immediate. Hope that makes sense!